Clark Kent
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01-07-2010 11:05 AM:
Because of so many injuries to big stars around MMA, it was a lackluster close to the year in terms of marquee title fights and superfights. Now everyone is getting healthy. Look out 2010. Strikeforce's Jan. 30 card is just about complete. Robbie Lawler against Melvin Manhoef was recently confirmed along with Nick Diaz-Marius Zaromskis, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos-Marloes Coenen and Joe Riggs-Jay Hieron. Bobby Lashley and Herschel Walker are also on the card. With the rumored fight against Shane Del Rosario going down the drain, there has been some speculation that Lashley may be off the card. That's not true. Strikeforce officials told Cagewriter that opponents for Lashley and Walker will be announced soon.
The UFC is faced with a pleasant problem. A glut of its titlest and major stars returning to action at the same time. On a video at BJPenn.com, the UFC's lightweight champ said he asked to fight on Mar. 27 at UFC 111 in Newark. The card is already loaded with an UFC interim title fight between Frank Mir and Shane Carwin plus Georges St. Pierre defends his welterweight belt against Dan Hardy. Penn floats the idea that he may fight in Abu Dhabi on Apr. 10 at UFC 112.
That may be problematic as well with rumors of Anderson Silva fighting Vitor Belfort on that card and Matt Hughes-Renzo Gracie already locked in. Don't be surprised to see Penn or Silva pushed to UFC 114. That has to be a stacked card with the event built around the 2nd Annual UFC Fan Expo May 28-29.
There's a lot of discussion that Frank Edgar may get the next shot at Penn. We'll get a clearer picture after Ultimate Fight Night 20 this Monday. If Gray Maynard destroys Nate Diaz, he may earn the first shot at Penn.
As if UFC 111, 112 and 114 aren't enough, don't forget that Strikeforce is planning on a CBS card most likely on Apr. 17 or 24. That card will probably feature Fedor Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Brett Rogers and Gilbert Melendez. Strikeforce may even be sniffing around Las Vegas looking to hold the event at The Thomas & Mack in the UFC's backyard.
Then there's May 1 in Montreal at UFC 113 where the main event will be the rematch between Mauricio Rua and Lyoto Machida. The Rashad Evans-Quinton Jackson fight fits in here somewhere as well.
More...
Yahoo! Sports.
Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield.
The UFC is faced with a pleasant problem. A glut of its titlest and major stars returning to action at the same time. On a video at BJPenn.com, the UFC's lightweight champ said he asked to fight on Mar. 27 at UFC 111 in Newark. The card is already loaded with an UFC interim title fight between Frank Mir and Shane Carwin plus Georges St. Pierre defends his welterweight belt against Dan Hardy. Penn floats the idea that he may fight in Abu Dhabi on Apr. 10 at UFC 112.
That may be problematic as well with rumors of Anderson Silva fighting Vitor Belfort on that card and Matt Hughes-Renzo Gracie already locked in. Don't be surprised to see Penn or Silva pushed to UFC 114. That has to be a stacked card with the event built around the 2nd Annual UFC Fan Expo May 28-29.
There's a lot of discussion that Frank Edgar may get the next shot at Penn. We'll get a clearer picture after Ultimate Fight Night 20 this Monday. If Gray Maynard destroys Nate Diaz, he may earn the first shot at Penn.
As if UFC 111, 112 and 114 aren't enough, don't forget that Strikeforce is planning on a CBS card most likely on Apr. 17 or 24. That card will probably feature Fedor Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Brett Rogers and Gilbert Melendez. Strikeforce may even be sniffing around Las Vegas looking to hold the event at The Thomas & Mack in the UFC's backyard.
Then there's May 1 in Montreal at UFC 113 where the main event will be the rematch between Mauricio Rua and Lyoto Machida. The Rashad Evans-Quinton Jackson fight fits in here somewhere as well.
More...
Yahoo! Sports.
Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield.
